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And it’s especially true when you’re talking about the Broadway musical Miracle on 34th Street now playing at London’s Grand Theatre.

The holiday show, with book, music, and lyrics by Meredith Wilson and based on the Oscar-winning 1947 film written and directed by George Seaton and starring Maureen O’Hara, John Payne, nine-year-old Natalie Wood and Edmund Gwenn as Kris Kringle, is one that crosses cultural boundaries, says the Grand’s artistic director, Susan Ferley.

“The story was originally called, Here’s Love,” said Ferley.

“It’s about love. One of the songs actually bridges these differences (in cultures) that all people should embrace each other as citizens of the world. At its core, it’s about faith and belief.”

The Grand’s production is directed by Ferley with musical direction by Ryan De Souza and choreography by Kerry Gage. It stars seven-year-old Hillary Harkes, as Susan, daughter of the divorced Doris (Blythe Wilson), who has lost her faith, preferring to look at the world in a realistic way before meeting ex-marine Fred Gaily (Matthew Cassidy) who takes her to meet Santa Claus (Kris Kringle, played by Brian McKay) at Macy’s department store.

Of course, a series of events, including Kringle’s declaration that he really is Santa Claus, leads to a court trial.

The 16-member ensemble includes Steven Gallagher as Mr. Macy, James Kall as Julian Shellhammer (head of the toy department), and Mark Harapiak as district attorney Thomas Mara Sr., who asks the judge (played by Dianna Coatsworth) to rule Santa Claus does not exist.

An interesting twist to this year’s production is the opportunity for members of the public to take the stage as a clown, a fundraiser for the Grand’s Holiday Wish For Kids program.

The Grand is looking for people to register and receive posters and sponsor sheets to raise at least $500 each for the chance to take part in the production’s Macy’s Santa Claus Parade.

Ferley said the show is one that people from all cultures will enjoy.

“It’s a very affirming story,” said Ferley.

“We see a (divorced) mother and child with no father at the beginning and how that mother gets over the pain of her past. It’s a romantic play full of whimsy. It’s pretty uplifting. It inspires. And that’s what theatre is about — bringing people together.”

Ferley’s young star, a Grade 2 pupil at Emily Carr public school in Stratford, said being on stage with Santa Claus is “awesome.”

“The best part of it, I think, is acting,” said the brown-haired youngster.

When asked how other children might feel seeing her onstage with Santa, Hillary was ‘realistic.’

“I think it will make them all jealous . . . and very, very happy.”

Veteran actor Brian McKay is no stranger to The Grand stage, having been seen in Dry Streak, Captivatin’ Cole and Bistro Car. And he should be no stranger to theatre-goers who have taken in shows at Huron Country Playhouse where he served as artistic director from 1998-2001.

McKay has performed on Broadway (Grind, starring Ben Vereen) and has appeared in, written or directed over 200 productions in Canada and the United States, twice being nominated for the Dora Mavor Moore Award and spent four seasons at the Stratford Festival.

McKay said he hopes the show will inspire love and faith in audiences.

“What I hope for, at the end of each show, is that every person was entertained by it, but they will also feel the presence of the person sitting beside them just a little stronger than when they came into the theatre,” said McKay.

“That’s what theatre is supposed to do, anyway. It’s a minor place of worship.”

joe.belanger@sunmedia.ca

twitter.com/JoeBatLFPress

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IF YOU GO

What: Miracle on 34th Street, the musical by Meredith Wilson and based on the Oscar-winning 1947 film written and directed by George Seaton, directed by Susan Ferley, musical direction by Ryan De Souza and choreography by Kerry Gage.

Tickets: A variety of prices ranging from $31.64 to $73.45 (plus applicable charges). For more information on performance times, dates and ticket prices and packages visit the box office, call 519-672- 8800 or toll free at 1-800-265-1593 or online at www.grandtheatre.com

Yes, life can deliver body blows, sometimes so many it’s hard to maintain your love and faith in people.

But when you get the once-in-lifetime chance to sit down with Santa Claus and talk about it, frankly and honesty . . . well, it’s surprising what truths and wisdoms you can walk away with and just how good you can feel.

Q:In a world where there’s so much conflict, economic woe, turmoil and uncertainty, how do you maintain your jolly demeanor?

“Well, Joe — because I’ve been calling you Joe since you were 4 — we look around the world today and there are 41 armed conflicts going on. We might think it’s just a terrible time, but I remember years (major world conflicts) when I couldn’t get in my sleigh at all. There is a side to human nature that’s not comfortable with too much peace that I don’t understand, But the one thing that is a truth and always has been is humankind is basically good in their hearts and that’s what keeps bringing me back each year.”

Q: What do you say to all the children caught up in these conflicts, maybe whose parents have lost their jobs?

“We have always had to deal with adversity. Life is not an easy ordeal. But if they have faith and hope through all of these (conflicts) it can make the difference between a life with hope and one of despondency or despair. And faith is the reason Santa Claus exists. Santa Claus is like an extension of our gods who has special meaning and his generosity is a reminder that’s the way we need to behave all year ’round.”

Q: Why does the world need Santa Claus?

“Simply to remind us that a life with faith and belief can sustain a human being in a life full of hope instead of despair and despondency.”

Q: How do you feel when you see the greed at Christmas time, the weighing of value and counting of gifts?

“The Christmas that Santa Claus represents has existed since the beginning — a time of simple reflection. And when Santa Claus get in his sleigh pulled by reindeer , the most important part of that journey is to share love. The gifts are simple tokens, an expression of love, hopefully, even for those people we’ve never met. In truth, the spirit of Christmas is the sharing of our love and caring for one another.”

Q: When you go into a store in early November, almost two months before Christmas Day, does it bother you?

“When I hear those songs just before I get back to work — and some songs I really like a lot — I wonder sometimes if those songs don’t lose their punch and people might take them for granted and lose sight of what it’s all really about. But, then, if people had Christmas carols in their heart all year long, nothing could please me more.”

Q: How do you feel when you hear someone — recently a drunken man — has told children there is no Santa Claus?

“Joe, cynicism is something the world will never escape. They say there’s no Santa Claus, no love, no God — things that require faith to accept — well, I think these are very lonely people who are in pain, the result of not believing in anything more than the end of their nose. I see a man who is desperate, who is in pain.”

Blythe Wilson as Doris and Matthew Cassidy as Fred kiss in front of 7-year-old Hillary Harkes as Susan during a photo call for the Grand Theatre's production of the Miracle on 34th Street Wednesday Nov 21. 2012 in London, Ont
MIKE HENSEN/The London Free Press/QMI AGENCY